CHICAGO — John Crane, in partnership with Al-Ahed Trading and Contracting Co., today announced the opening of Qatar’s first dry gas seal and testing facility.

For nearly 40 years, Al-Ahed has represented John Crane within Qatar, providing a range of John Crane products and multidisciplinary services to oil and gas customers within the region. This service center comes as part of John Crane’s commitment to continue investing in and developing its network of global service centers, as well as bolster support for local customer service needs.

Located in the Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) security area, an industrial hub approximately 80 kilometers north of Doha, Qatar, which serves as Qatar’s main production site for liquefied natural gas and gas-to-liquid products, the new service center is Qatar’s first dry gas seal repair and testing facility. The new service center will provide John Crane with the capabilities necessary for aftermarket support for its customers within the region, while also allowing them to deliver quick turnaround service capabilities and reduce downtime costs.

The Ras Laffan service center increases John Crane's localization efforts in the country, which closely aligns with the energy sector's vision. The opening of the center brings highly critical service and repair capabilities to Qatar’s energy sector and provides support for local companies within the oil and gas, petrochemical, fertilizer, and power generation markets.

Phase two of the service center will bring additional capabilities to cover wet seal product services and support.

John Crane’s other service facility, located in the Salawa Industrial Area, in proximity to Doha, will continue to extend wet seal repair services to oil and gas customers within the region.